Turn off read receipts so people can't see when you've read their messages
Instagram shows a small timestamp or "Seen" label when you read someone's direct message. If you don't want people to know you've read their message, you can turn off read receipts in your Instagram settings. Once you do, nobody will see when you've opened their DM — but you also won't see when they've read yours.
The setting works the same way on both iPhone and Android. You'll find it in your privacy settings, and it takes about 30 seconds to change. This is a one-time toggle that affects all your direct messages at once, so you don't have to adjust it for each conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Turning off read receipts hides the "Seen" label from everyone who messages you, but it also hides their read receipts from you.
- The setting is in Instagram Settings and privacy > Privacy > Messages, and applies to all your direct messages at once.
- You can still see when someone is typing, and they can still see when you're typing, even with read receipts off.
- If you change your mind later, you can turn read receipts back on using the same menu, and the change takes effect immediately.
- Turning off read receipts does not notify the other person — they'll simply stop seeing "Seen" labels on your messages.
How to turn off read receipts on iPhone
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right.
Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy. Next, tap Privacy, then tap Messages. You'll see a toggle next to "Read receipts" — tap it to turn the setting off. The toggle will turn gray when it's off, indicating that the feature is no longer active.
Close the app and you're done. Your read receipts are now hidden from everyone. The change takes effect immediately, so the next message someone sends you won't show a "Seen" label when you open it.
How to turn off read receipts on Android
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy. Tap Privacy, then tap Messages. Find the toggle next to "Read receipts" and tap it to turn it off. When the toggle is off, it will appear gray.
You can close the app now. Your read receipts are turned off, and the setting applies to all your incoming and outgoing direct messages. Like on iPhone, the change is immediate.
What happens when you turn off read receipts
When read receipts are off, people who message you won't see a "Seen" label or timestamp showing when you opened their message. They'll just see that the message was delivered. This applies to all your direct messages — you can't turn read receipts off for just one person or one conversation.
The tradeoff is that you also won't see when other people have read your messages. If someone sends you a message, you won't know whether they've opened it or not. You will still see when someone is typing a response to you, and they'll still see your typing indicator. The typing feature operates independently from read receipts.
Group chats are affected the same way. If you turn off read receipts, people in group conversations won't see "Seen" labels on your messages either. Everyone in the group will notice that your messages no longer show when you've read them.
Turn read receipts back on if you change your mind
If you decide you want read receipts on again, follow the same steps: go to Settings and privacy > Privacy > Messages, and tap the "Read receipts" toggle to turn it back on. The toggle will turn blue when it's on.
Once you turn it back on, people will immediately start seeing "Seen" labels on your messages again, and you'll see theirs. There's no waiting period — the change is instant. You can toggle this setting on and off as many times as you want without any restrictions.
Why you might want to turn off read receipts
Some people turn off read receipts because they don't want others to feel ignored if they read a message but don't respond right away. Others do it for privacy — they prefer that nobody knows when they're actively using Instagram. A few people turn it off because they find the pressure to respond quickly stressful.
Turning off read receipts can also be useful if you check messages frequently but don't always have time to reply. Without read receipts, people won't see that you've been online and reading messages, which can reduce the expectation for an immediate response. There's no right or wrong reason to use this feature — it's entirely a personal preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
No. The read receipts setting applies to all your direct messages at once. If you turn it off, nobody will see your read receipts. There's no way to hide them from one person while showing them to everyone else on Instagram.
Will people know I turned off read receipts?
Not automatically. They'll just notice that they don't see "Seen" labels on your messages anymore. Some people might ask you directly, but Instagram doesn't send them a notification that you've changed the setting.
Can I still see typing indicators if read receipts are off?
Yes. Typing indicators work separately from read receipts. You'll still see when someone is typing a message to you, and they'll still see when you're typing, even if read receipts are turned off.
Does turning off read receipts affect group chats?
Yes. If you turn off read receipts, people in group chats won't see "Seen" labels on your messages either. The setting applies to all your direct messages, including group conversations.
What if I turn off read receipts and then turn them back on?
When you turn read receipts back on, people will start seeing "Seen" labels on your messages immediately. Instagram doesn't show them a history of when you read their old messages — only new messages going forward will display the "Seen" label.